LAHORE, April 12: The Joint Action Committee for People’s Right on Friday opposed the presidential referendum scheduled for April 30, terming it as unconstitutional.

Speaking at a press conference here at the Press Club, committee members Ms Hina Jilani, Haider Maudoodi, Arfan Mufti, Neelma Husain and many others said the way President Gen Pervez Musharraf had stepped in politics was a violation of the oath he had taken at the time of his assuming the office of the chief of army staff.

They said spending of huge amounts of public money and using the state machinery for the success of the president’s political campaign was highly deplorable. If the president was that much eager to take part in politics, he should better join a political party and present himself before the masses, they added.

Condemning the government’s performance during the last three years, they said the country was facing economic turmoil and social anarchy.

They said perpetuation of the present rulers in power for a long time would prove fatal for the country.

The Musharraf regime was the fourth military government, they said, adding all military rulers had failed to deliver the goods or carry out across-the-board accountability.

The committee maintained that the military had always considered itself above accountability. It said President Musharraf’s military predecessors had strengthened the hands of terrorists who had waged a war in the name of jihad in Kashmir and Afghanistan that tarnished the image of the country around the globe.

Replying to a question, Ms Hina said it would be in the best national interests if the army returned to barracks and restored political activities in the country.